Conference Programme

Scientific Sessions

Friday, June 7 &

Inauguration Ceremony
Saturday, June 8, 2024
Friday November 10, 2023
16:30 – 19:00 (Pakistan Time; GMT +5)
Venue: Auditorium, AKU

0900 – 1800 hrs

AKU, Medical College
 Friday, June 7, 2024

Time Topic
0900 –
0930 Plenary Session: Auditorium
Benefits of Shifting Gears: From Disease Management to Attaining Optimal Cardiovascular Health Early
in Life
Prof. Dr Salim Virani, Vice Provost, Office of Research and Graduate Studies, AKU
Chair: Prof. Dr Sarah Saleem, Professor and Section Head, Population and Reproductive Health, Department of
Community Health Sciences, AKU
Prof. Dr Unab Khan, Professor and Chair, Department of Family Medicine, AKU
Stage Secretary: Dr Batool Fatima

0930 – SHIELD (Schools for Healthy Lifestyles & Disease Prevention)

1000 Award Distribution for best NCD posters made by school children
(Sabina Khatri, Founder & Chairperson Kiran Foundation)

Stage Secretary: Ms Sabahat Naz

1000- Poster Viewing and Tea Break (30 min)
1030
1030 – Scientific Session I: Auditorium
1230 Mental Health Screening and Programs

Keynotes:
1035 –
1050 Addressing social and mental health issues in out-of-school children
Prof. Nusrat Husain, Professor of Psychiatry, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of
Manchester

1055 – Adolescent Mental Health: A Global Perspective

1110
Prof. Atif Rahman, Professor of Child Psychiatry and Global Mental Health, Primary Care & Mental Health,
University of Liverpool
FREE PAPERS
1. Anxiety levels among school-going adolescents in peri-urban areas of Karachi, Pakistan, Tooba Seemi,
SINA Health Education and Welfare Trust
2. Global Trends and Forecasting of Suicide Among Adolescents: A Gender and Age Perspective (1950-
2021), Fatima Nazir, Aga Khan University
3. Personality traits of students from different healthcare fields of Dow University of Health Sciences,
Muhammad Saud Qazi, Dow International Dental College
4. Dependency on electronic devices and its effect on social competence of secondary school students in
Karachi, Pakistan; A multi-centre cross-sectional study, Mahnoor Amin, K. M. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital,
Karachi
5. Stakeholders Perception on High School Mental Health Program in Karachi, Pakistan - A Qualitative
Study, Umair Umed Ali Datoo, Aga Khan University

Session Chairs:
Prof. Dr Fauziah Rabbani, Professor, Department of Community Health Sciences, and BMI, AKU
Dr Nargis Asad, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Psychiatry, AKU

Stage Secretary: Ms Waliyah Mughis

1230 – Poster Viewing, Lunch and Prayer Break

1400
1400 – Scientific Session II: Auditorium
1600
Triple Burden of Malnutrition
Keynotes:
Zero Size Bride - An emerging public health concern for the health of adolescent girls, young mother and
1405 –
their offspring
1420
Dr Asif Khaliq, Public Health Specialist, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of
Technology, Australia

1425 - Effectiveness of Interventions for Preventing and Treating Obesity in Adolescents from Low- and Middle-
1440 Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Regression Analysis
Dr Gerardo Zavala Gomez, Research Fellow, University of York, UK

FREE PAPERS
1. Are Food Insecurity and Dietary Diversity associated with Cumulative Grade Point Average? A
Cross-sectional study, Sukaina Shabbir, Dow University of Health Sciences
2. Exploring the perceptions about dietary habits of young adolescents aged 10-14 years: a qualitative
descriptive study in public and private schools, Karachi, Mehwish Shehzad Aga Khan University
3. Metabolic syndrome and obesity among marginalized school-going adolescents in Karachi, Pakistan: a
cross-sectional study, Hina Sharif, Sina Health Education & Welfare Trust
4. Association between Body Mass Index Scores and Haemoglobin Levels among Adolescent Girls in
Rural Sindh, Pakistan: A Community-Based Study, Mansoor Abro, Aga Khan University
5. Influence of food environment in and around schools on food choices and practices of grade 6 and 7
students in public and private schools of Karachi, Pakistan: A mixed methods study, Maira Mubashir,
Aga Khan University

Session Chairs:
Prof. Salma Badruddin, Lifetime President, Pakistan Nutrition and Dietetic Society
Dr Khalid Iqbal, Researcher, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen,
Germany

Stage Sect: Dr Mahrukh Zafar

1600 – Panel Discussion: Adolescent Health Risks and Policy Interventions: Tackling Tobacco, Junk Food, and
1700 Energy Beverages
Moderator: Dr Zahid Memon

Caroline Harris (MRC – UK – online), Adolescent, Adolescent parent, Sanaullah Ghumman (Pannah),
Hannan Abbasi (Youth Health Forum), Zohra Lassi (University of Adelaide, Australia – online)

1700- Poster Viewing and Hi-tea

1800
 Saturday, June 8, 2024

Time Topic

0900 – Scientific Session III: Auditorium

1100
Tobacco and Substance Use
Keynotes:
0905 – Exploring the use of smokeless tobacco in adolescence
0920
Dr Shaista Rasool, Lecturer, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar

0925 – Substance Use in Youth: Intervention Strategies for Mitigation

0940
Dr Salman Shahzad, Professor of Psychology, Institute of Clinical Psychology, University of Karachi
Free Papers:
1. Youth-Led Advocacy on Tobacco Control: Empowering the Next Generation, Kinza Zeeshan, Indus
Hospital & Health Network
2. Visual Narratives: Exploring Youth Perspectives on Tobacco Use Through Photovoice, Javeria Akhter,
Indus Hospital and Health Network
3. Tobacco control policies and the health of Adolescents in Pakistan (TAP): A multi-method study,
Midhat Farzeen, The Initiative, Islamabad
4. From Knowledge to Habit: Adolescent Substance Use in Focus, Shafaq Saeed Roghay, Baqai Medical
University
5. Exploring the Association of Smokeless Tobacco Use and Haemoglobin Levels among Children in a
Rural District of Pakistan: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study – Anticipatory Findings, Zeeshan
Allana, Aga Khan University

Session Chairs:
Prof. Javaid Ahmed Khan, Department of Medicine, AKU
Dr Zohaib Khan, Director, ORIC, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar

Stage Secretary: Ms Ghazala Akhlaque

1100 – Poster Viewing and Tea Break (15 minutes)
1115
1115 – Auditorium Lecture Hall # 3
1315
Parallel Scientific Session IV Parallel Scientific Session V
Physical Activity and Screen Time Environmental Health and Climate Change
1120 –
1140 Keynotes: Keynotes:
Not just Fun and Games: Conceptualising Nurturing Healthy Futures: Shielding Adolescent
Adolescents’ Physical Activity in Terms of the 24- Hearts and Minds Amidst South Asia's
hour Activity Paradigm Environmental Challenges
Prof. Dr Solveig Argeseanu Cunningham, Professor of Prof. Dr Ejaz Ahmad Khan, Professor and Head of
Global Health, Department of Sociology, and the Office of Research Innovation & Commercialization,
Department of Epidemiology, EMORY University, Health Services Academy, Islamabad
Atlanta, USA
1145 –
1205 Physical Activity interventions in adolescent school Impact of Climate Change on Public Health in the
going children Metropolitan City of Karachi, Pakistan
Dr Aysha Almas, Associate Professor & Vice Chair, Dr Aamir Alamgir, Assistant Professor, Institute of
Department of Medicine, AKU Environmental Studies, University of Karachi
Time Topic

Free Papers Free Papers

1. Screen Time Usage and Associated Health- 1. Effectiveness of school-based global warming
Related Lifestyle Factors Among School Going intervention among adolescents in Karachi,
Adolescents in Karachi, Pakistan, Afreen Sadia, Pakistan: A Quasi-experimental study, Butool
Aga Khan University Fatima, Aga Khan University
2. Physical Activity Among Young Adolescent 2. Factory Fumes and Adolescent Health:
Students in Urban Karachi, Pakistan, Saleema Exploring the Link to Acute Respiratory
Gulzar, Aga Khan University Infections, Syeda Lyba Onaiz, Bahria University
3. Association between screen time and junk food of Health Sciences
consumption among adolescents (13-18) years of 3. The Impact of Urban Rain Flood on Adolescent
age in Karachi, Adeela Rahmat, Bahria University Well-Being (The Case Study of District Matiari,
Health Sciences Pakistan), Kainat Murad, Aga Khan University
4. Physical activity and academic performance 4. Climate Change; Effects on Health, Fatima
among physiotherapy students at Sindh Zulfiqar Cheema, Fatimah Jinnah Medical
Institute of Physical Medicine and University, Lahore
Rehabilitation, Karachi, Tabeer Tanwir Awan, 5. Impact of Lead Acid Battery Recycling on
Dow University of Health Sciences Human Health and Environment, Atif Mustafa,
5. Cross-sectional study on Physical Activity, NED University of Engineering and Technology
Screen Time and quality of life, Arooba Munir,
Fatima Jinnah Medical University, Lahore

Session Chairs Session Chairs

Prof. Dr Sumaira I. Farooqui, Dean Faculty of Dr Matthew O’Madigan Gribble, Associate
Allied Health Sciences, Ziauddin University, Professor and Associate Chief for Research in
Karachi Occupational, Environmental, and Climate
Dr Zahra Hoodbhoy, Associate Professor, Medicine, University of California, San Francisco,
Department of Paediatrics and Child health, AKU USA
Dr Bilal Ahmed Usmani, Assistant Professor and
Section Head, Epidemiology and Biostatistics,
Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU

Stage Sect: Wafa Zehra Jamal Stage Sect: Hira Tariq

1315 – Poster Viewing and Lunch Break (45 minutes)

1400
Time Topic

1400 – Dissemination Event: Findings of Children Learning About Second-hand Smoke III (Lecture Hall # 3)
1600 Invitees: MOH (Tobacco Office), MOEdu (SELD), AKU-IED, CLASS III Team, YAG Schools, NGOs working
on tobacco, Substance Use and adolescent health (Kiran Foundation)

Qirat 5 minutes
Video Clip 5 min
Welcome Speech – Dr Romaina Iqbal 5 min
Introduction of CLASS III – Prof. Javaid Khan 10 min
Key Findings – Ms Maira Mubashir 10 min
Lessons Learned/Process Evaluation, Ms Ghazala Shaikh (and Ms Umber Khan) 10 min
SHIELD – Activities and feedback – Ms Sabahat Naz 10 min

Moderated discussion on the way forward

Moderator: Dr Romaina Iqbal

Session Chairs:
Dr Amina Khan, Executive Director, The Initiative, Islamabad
Mr. Shahzad Alam Khan, National Professional Officer, Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs), Tobacco Control
and Mental Health, World Health Organisation, Country Office, Pakistan

Stage Secretary: Dr Zeerak Jarar

1600 – Auditorium Lecture Hall # 3

1730
1600-1730 General Awareness Session on 1600-1700 Panel Discussion: School Initiatives for
Adolescent Health (for parents, schoolteachers, and improving adolescent health in Pakistan
adolescents) Moderator: Shifa Habib

1600 – 1605 Qirat Panellists: TCF representative, Directorate Private

1605 – 1610 Introduction to the program (Dr Romaina Schools, Dean Farid Punjwani, AKU-IED, Kishwar
Iqbal) Inam, Dr Naveed Yousuf, AKU-EB, One adolescent
1610 – 1620 Adolescent Health Issues – Prof. Khadija group representative
Humayun
1630 – 1640 Mental Health signs and symptoms in the
adolescent age group- Ms. Waliyah Mughis 1700-1730 Award Ceremony Best Poster and Best
1620 – 1630 Healthy Diet and Physical Activity for the Oral Presentations (Lecture Hall # 3)
Adolescents – PNDS – Fayza Khan
1640 – 1650 – Tobacco Cessation – Prof. Javaid Khan Awards distribution by Dr Lamia Mahmoud (WHO)
and Dean Farid Punjwani (AKU-IED)
1650 – 1730 Q and As

Stage Secretary: Dr Tahani Waqar Stage Secretary: Dr Zia ul Haq

1730 -
Networking Session with hi-Tea (specified space)
1800
 Conference Team

Advisory committee:

Prof. Dr Kamran Siddiqi, Professor in Global Health, University of York

Prof. Dr Syed Asad Ali, Professor and Chair, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU
Prof. Dr Zainab Samad, Professor and Chair, Department of Medicine, AKU
Dr Naveed Bhutto, Maternal Child Health Nutrition Expert, Technical Advisor on Nutrition - Sindh Food Authority

Scientific Committee:

Dr Romaina Iqbal (Chair), Associate Professor and Section Head, NCD and Mental Health, Department of
Community Health Sciences, AKU
Dr Sana Sheikh, Department of Medicine, AKU
Dr Batool Fatima, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU
Dr Zia ul Haq, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU
Waliyah Mughis, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU
Sabahat Naz, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU
Dr Hira Tariq, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU
Dr Mahrukh Zafar, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU

Workshop Committee:

Dr Batool Fatima, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU

Shehzad Rajwani, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU

Finance Committee:

Ali Hussaini, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU

Umair Pradhan, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU
Sultana Salim, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU
Shehzad Rajwani, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU

Communication & Marketing Committee:

Hira Tariq (Chair), Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU

Ghulam Mustafa, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU
Shehzad Rajwani, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU

Hospitality Committee:

Waliyah Mughis, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU

Dr Mahrukh Zafar, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU
Maira Mubashir, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU
Shehzad Rajwani, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU
Ghazala Shaikh, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU
Ghulam Mustafa, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU

Volunteers Committee:

Dr Tahani Waqar (Chair), Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU

Dr Romaina Iqbal, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU
Ghulam Mustafa, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU
Admin and Logistic Team:

Altaf Hussein, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU

Rahim Rehmani, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU
Asif Tajuddin, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU
Gul Fayyaz Khan, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU
Ali Shah Nooruddin, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU
Tahir Faiz, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU
Doulat Khan, Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU

Other Support Teams:

Saman Qureshi, Communication and Advancement, Medical College, AKU

Ayesha Izhar, Communication and Advancement, Medical College, AKU
Mustafa Husain, Office of Strategic Communications, AKU
Ambreen Nadeem, Office of Strategic Communications, AKU
Muhammad Irshad, Conference Secretariate, AKU
Manzoor Yaseeni, Conference Secretariate, AKU
Sultan Saleem, Conference Secretariate, AKU
Ali Nayab Khan, Medical College Administration, AKU
Karim Anwerali, Medical College Administration, AKU
Muhammad Farhan, DCPE, AKU
Khuram Shehzad, DCPE, AKU